Tuesday, October 13, 2009

WASHINGTON, Oct. 13, 2009 -- Newswire services today reported that President Barack Obama says he will make his decision on new troops for Afghanistan in "the coming weeks."

Obama told reporters Tuesday that decisions on the military front are important, but just one aspect of the U.S. strategy in Afghanistan. He said an important element is building up civilian capacity, to help improve Afghanistan's governance, agriculture, rule of law.

The president took reporters' questions after meeting in the Oval Office with Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.